I am planning to buy an Olympus E-300. I would like to ask for your personal reviews, and comments regarding its performance, value, efficiency ; etc.
This will be a very important investment of my life and money :Grin: since this will be my first DSLR.


Thanks. :)

Hello Jason! I'm an olympus e-300 user for more than a year now and no complains so far. =) the colors are punchy, it handles relatively well, no front/back focus issues, pro features for an entry level, Zuiko lenses are among the toprated lenses. although, the noise issue is somewhat bothering if you tend to use higher ISOs in your shots, the autofocus is not as fast as some other cameras and of course, third party manufacturers are still in the brew for 4/3rds accessories/lenses.

The thing with buying an e-300 now is it's somewhat old already. the moment you buy the e-300, the new olympus flagship will come out. that's the dilema..

Thanks for your feedback Tok. You may be right, There will be newer models comin out. But i am in a tight budget. :( Is there any other camera model/brand that you may suggest that has the same features (pro features~entry level DSLR) ? for the same kind of budget.

the features are dime-a-dozen. almost all entry-level DSLRs have the same features with a different marketing spin =b

i'm not familiar with the current e-300s price, but back then when it first came out, it was either the canon 300D or the nikon D70 if not the e-300..

I am actually considering the two brands you mentioned. but Oly E-300 comes with a Kit lens (14mm - 45mm) + extra lens (40-150mm) ~[FREE] seems to be very enticing. And I can't find any other promo/package that comes with an extra lens for the same amount of money. And I heard Zuiko are really good. I hope i am heading the right deriction. :Scared:

Yes you are. I chose between E500 and E300 about 4 months ago but i went with e500 just for model issue. If they went out to market at the same time I could have gotten the 300. It's sturdy and at that time they throw in a lot of freebies just to dispose the stocks, I think and its a lot cheaper. If your planning to buy this, buy it at hidalgo it's way cheaper than the malls. If you are still in Manila are you? Looking forward for another Oly user.

Dhon,

in that case. you'd be better off with the E-300 =). it's a good entry-level kit since you get to cover the long and short of it =b *pun intended* Yes, Zuiko lenses are among the toprated lenses =)

lucky you because when i got my e-300, it only came with 14-45mm.. it wasn't until a month or two after did the 2 lens kit come out...

oh well =D good luck with your purchase!

Yes you are. I chose between E500 and E300 about 4 months ago but i went with e500 just for model issue. If they went out to market at the same time I could have gotten the 300. It's sturdy and at that time they throw in a lot of freebies just to dispose the stocks, I think and its a lot cheaper. If your planning to buy this, buy it at hidalgo it's way cheaper than the malls. If you are still in Manila are you? Looking forward for another Oly user.


thanks for all your response. Where can i find Olympus in Hidalgo? What particular store?

proud e-300 user here... nothing comes close with the built and quality of the kit lens... loved to hold this camera...

One thing I like with the Olympus system is that their kit lenses are really nice hehe.

yes it is. and you get to cover more telephoto range with fewer lenses than with other system.

Its the future of digital photography. Word has it that the next iteration after olympus e400 will come with a video recording mode.

not much advertisement and hype like other but truly effective. Why not get the e400 instead?

anybody knows how much is an e300 2 lens kit in quiapo?

a couple of months back, they had it on sale for about 35K with two lenses.

the E-500 with two lenses is being sold now at mayer's for about 42K

yes it is. and you get to cover more telephoto range with fewer lenses than with other system.


not really mike, as most olympus lenses spec their focal length same as the 135mm standard equavalents, effectively with less telephoto range than canon or nikon.

kit lenses:

ZD 14-45mm = 28-90mm standard
ZD 40-150mm = 80-300mm tele standard
(canon's standards would be 28-105mm and 70-300mm which would be boosted 1.6x with the 30D)

pro lenses:

ZD 35-100mm 2.0 = 70-200mm a 135mm standard
(canon gets 112-320mm with their 70-200 2.8 lens)
ZD 50mm 2.0 macro = 100mm macro a 135mm standard
(canon gets 160mm with their 100mm 2.8 macro lens)
ZD 50-200mm = 100-400mm another 135mm standard
(canon gets 160-640mm with their 100-400L lens)

so even with 4/3's 2x crop factor, olympus spec'ed their lenses to mimic 135mm standards, hoping that pros would catch on to it, and effectively giving them less telephoto range with canon and nikon's digital standards and you would need more lenses too. :) just clearing it up peace bro! ;)

anyways, i loved my ZD kit lenses especially the 40-150mm. and don't you underestimate that 14-45mm dohnjason, i had super shots with that one, even better ones than the 14-54mm 2.8 (the faster lens just has a bigger opening, a faster motor, better built and is heavier). keep on shootin'!

the e400 2 kit lens if it arrives here and sold on gray market will be priced at 80k pesos..

you think this is a wortwhile buy?

I'm relatively new into the dSLR world too ... and when I was searching for the right camera (at least for me - budget, skills and all), it was part of my consideration set: Olympus, Canon or a Nikon. Decisions decisions decisions. Of the many photographer friends that I've asked - most of them are partial to either a Canon or a Nikon and only very few did suggest getting an Olympus. I was once an Olympus (instamatic --- hahaha) owner, but have long succumed to the call of the Japan ... so bottom line, I ended up with a Canon 350d (and just a few months later, they introduced the 400 --- grrr!) - and have been happy with its performance so far - plus I get to borrow lenses, etc from my friends.

Try checking out MAYER in Hidalgo (Quiapo). They have one (if not the best) of the best value deals for cameras. I got my 350 d for only 37k - while in the malls it retails for around 40-42 k. If you decide to get still an Olympus - you might get to save a bundle and just splurge your savings on some lenses.

Alan

the e400 2 kit lens if it arrives here and sold on gray market will be priced at 80k pesos..

you think this is a wortwhile buy?


WHOA!! Mike, are you thinking of getting a dslr? Have you suddenly become "stupid'?

WHOA!! Mike, are you thinking of getting a dslr? Have you suddenly become "stupid'?


just asking. I trying to fill my curiousity what is with DSLRs that are so fascinating? no video? no live preview? expensive?

burning money is fun. hehehe..

I'm not sure what stores exactly carries the Oly E-300. i got mine in megamall.. =b but as Alan mentioned, you should try Mayer's.. be wary of "bad-copies" though..

thanks for all your response. Where can i find Olympus in Hidalgo? What particular store?

Thanks Tok. I called Mayer's last monday. No more E-300 :( . They now only have E-330 and E-500. Too bad i dont have cash to splurge. They're currently not accepting Credit Card. :(

hi mike, i doubt if it would reach 80K with the 2 lens kit (grey market price of the e-400). last i heard, somebody sold someone a bnew e-330 kit (with 1 lens) for only 35k, grey market unit. i also bought my E-500 when it just releases for 55K (w/ 2 lens kit) so i'm guessing the e-400's grey market price at around 60K max. good for you if you're considering getting one :D

i would suggest getting a Leica M8 though where burning money if fun-er! :D

Thanks Tok. I called Mayer's last monday. No more E-300 :( . They now only have E-330 and E-500. Too bad i dont have cash to splurge. They're currently not accepting Credit Card. :(

my friend just bought a cam via credit card this sunday at Mayer's. I think they're affected by the removal of the 6% surcharge thing.

the e-400 sounds interesting because of it's size. heck, a DSLR masquerading as a point and shoot? :Grin:

my friend just bought a cam via credit card this sunday at Mayer's. I think they're affected by the removal of the 6% surcharge thing.

the e-400 sounds interesting because of it's size. heck, a DSLR masquerading as a point and shoot? :Grin:

but no live preview and video recording so i essence it will still not pass as a point and shoot. But its nearing at that point. :) The next release of an Olympus DSLR assuming they call it e440 will probably have this features.

as long as LV is not in macro mode only...

Check around the malls.. i'm sure they still have an E-300 in stock. Try calling Island photo or some other photo stores. i might have seen one or two displayed in their stores, just not sure which branch exactly =)

Good luck Dhonjasnon! =)

Thanks Tok. I called Mayer's last monday. No more E-300 :( . They now only have E-330 and E-500. Too bad i dont have cash to splurge. They're currently not accepting Credit Card. :(

Check around the malls.. i'm sure they still have an E-300 in stock. Try calling Island photo or some other photo stores. i might have seen one or two displayed in their stores, just not sure which branch exactly =)

Good luck Dhonjasnon! =)

Tok, et. al. thank you for all your suggestions/comments. I bought my E-300 yesterday. :Grin: Kit includes 2 lenses and 1Gb CF. :) :D :)

Do you guys have any idea, how much it will cost for the 40-150mm lens if I will purchase it separately?

congrats bro.. welcome sa oly family :) .. mag save ka na sa nxt lens mo :)

Congrats pre, how much inabot?

why haven't you just waited for this.. latest model but cheaper then e300...

http://nikonimaging.com/global/products/digitalcamera/slr/d40/index.htm

Congratulations! =) how much did it cost you?

the 40-150mm costs around $200.00 on the net.. not sure how much locally

It cost me almost 40k. :Scared:

congrats and welcome to the oly family :)

congrats and welcome to the oly family :)

Thanks Cholo.

I just wanna ask, Where can I get 4/3 or Olympus Lenses here in Manila/Phils.?

the only store i know that sells 4/3 lenses here is axis global. are there other stores guys?

One of my 'first shots'

http://static.flickr.com/102/300637180_e861fd1cd1.jpg